Oversized drinking hand

ABSTRACT

An oversized human hand in the shape of a fist is made of flexible, insulative, polyurethane foam with a harder, outer, non-absorbent, smooth surface. The exterior of the article is suitable for bearing various indicia or writing such as team affiliation, logos, slogans, person or family names, advertising material or event information. A tubular cavity is provided for inserting one&#39;s hand. Towards the end of the cavity or tube is an internal gripping post that extends upwardly from the base of the cavity to the roof of the cavity. The post allows one to hold onto the article without it slipping off. The article is provided with an exterior beverage receptacle. The receptacle is open at the top, with a generally circular sidewall and a bottom and with a diameter typically a little smaller than that of a beverage container. The receptacle is generally aligned with the gripping post and beyond, that is, behind the gripping post. The article is molded so as to include space for a sound instrument disposed within the article. The instrument is located on the inside wrist and includes an area of exterior openings for venting sound from the sound device speaker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novelty article and, in particular to an oversized drinking hand in the shape of a fist and of the type that might be used, for example at sporting events, colleges, dispensers, in promotional campaigns, souvenir shops and the like and is capable of holding a beverage container such as a bottle, can, glass or cup.

2. Description of the Prior Art

At sporting events today, it is common to see spectators wearing on their hands an oversized article, in some instances a hand, in some way emblematic or supportive of one of the teams participating in the sporting event.

There have been numerous promotional novelty articles that have been created in the past to serve practical uses along with the objective of being crafted and decorated to affiliate oneself with a sports team, organization, political activity, individual, etc.

Several such novelties that have become popular both as a toy and for display by children and adults, include a piece of foam in the outlining shape of a human hand, or different representations of animal hands, into which persons insert their hands in an inner pocket within the foam like that of a mitten and on which a team slogan or logo may be imprinted.

Once the hand is inserted, it is generally not free to perform other tasks such as holding a beverage container, but where attempted, the novelty item does not fully wrap around the beverage container nor is there any support to prevent the beverage container from sliding through the novelty item.

It is also known to have cylindrically shaped, beverage insulators for holding beverage containers and onto which slogans and logos may be imprinted. Because of their large size and outer smooth surface, they often are difficult to grasp and hold onto, nor are they intended to be worn.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is a novel oversized hand in the shape of a fist that can be worn and easily held while acting as a beverage container holder.

Another object is such an article that can be made of non-absorbent, flexible foam with a smooth exterior that can easily be printed upon.

Still another object is such an article wherein the beverage container, once gripped, can not easily slip or be dropped.

A further object is such an article that can incorporate a sound instrument to play noises, team slogans, fight songs and the like.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, one illustrative embodiment of which comprises an oversized human hand in the shape of a fist. The article or hand is made of flexible, insulative, polyurethane foam with a harder, outer, non-absorbent, smooth surface. The exterior of the article is suitable for bearing various indicia or writing such as team affiliation, logos, slogans, person or family names, advertising material or event information. A tubular cavity is provided for inserting one's hand. Towards the end of the cavity or tube is an internal gripping post that extends upwardly from the base of the cavity to the roof of the cavity. The post allows one to hold onto the article without it slipping off. The article is provided with an exterior beverage receptacle. The receptacle is open at the top, with a generally circular sidewall and a bottom and with a diameter typically a little smaller than that of a beverage container. The receptacle is generally aligned with the gripping post and beyond, that is, behind the gripping post. The article is molded so as to include space for a sound instrument disposed within the article. The instrument is located on the inside wrist and includes an area of exterior openings for venting sound from the sound device speaker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompany drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the novelty article is an enlarged left hand in the shape of a fist and the view is the palm side of the hand;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the hand of FIG. 1

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the pinky side of the hand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the thumb side of the hand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a rearview of the hand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a sectional view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the hand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a sectional view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the novelty article is an enlarged right hand in the shape of a fist and the view is the palm side of the hand;

FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the hand of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the hand of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is a sectional view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the pinky side of the hand of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9A is a sectional view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the thumb side of the hand of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10A is a sectional view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a rearview of the hand of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11A is a sectional view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the hand of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 12A is a sectional view of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6A of the drawing, in the embodiment described, an oversized human hand 11 in the shape of a fist is illustrated. The article could just as well be crafted in the shape of a paw of an animal that might be the mascot of a sporting team, or a robot hand, licensed character hand representations, sport's figure's hand and the like. The article or hand 11 is made of flexible, insulative, polyurethane foam with a harder, outer, non-absorbent, smooth surface so that the article will not absorb moisture. The exterior of the article is suitable for bearing various indicia or writing such as team affiliation, logos, slogans, person or family names, advertising material, event information and the like. The hand may be of human skin color, but other colors as well. A cavity 12 into which a person inserts his/her hand is essentially a tube. The person does not actually insert his or her fingers into the article's fingers. The article's fingers merely simulate the fingers of the oversized hand.

Towards the end of the cavity or tube 12 is an internal gripping post 13 that extends upwardly from the base of the cavity 12 to the roof of the cavity 12. The post 13 allows one to hold onto the article 11 without it slipping off.

Article 11 is provided with an exterior beverage receptacle 14. The receptacle 14 is open at the top, with a generally circular sidewall and a bottom and with a diameter typically a little smaller than that of a beverage container. In this way, the beverage container is better held and insulated and is stable within the receptacle. Containers holding room temperature, cold and hot beverages may be placed within the receptacle 14.

The interior sidewall of the receptacle is scored, i.e. vertical grooving, to allow a better gripping and insulating of the beverage containers inserted therein. The bottom of the receptacle 14 may be smooth like the outer surface of the article 11. The depth and diameter of receptacle 14 should allow for receipt of an aluminum can, glass or plastic bottle of the 12, 16, 20 and 24 ounce sizes. In a typical embodiment, the receptacle 14 is 2 1/4 to 2¾ inches deep and 2 1/8 to 2¾ inches in diameter.

The receptacle 14 is generally aligned with the gripping post 13 and beyond, that is, behind the gripping post 13. The hand 11 is large and dwarfs the beverage container being held.

The article 11 is molded so as to include space for a sound instrument 15 disposed within the article 11. The instrument 15 is located on the inside wrist of hand 11 and includes an area of exterior openings 16 for venting sound from the sound device speaker. The sound device 15 is battery operated and has pre-recorded sounds such as noises, sound effects, phrases, fight songs, cheers, etc. The instrument is of the type that may be activated through impact of a person's hand or equipped with buttons to allow manual control and will be secured in place, as by gluing, so that it can not move around.

The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7 through 12A is similar to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 6A except that it is for a right hand 21 and with cavity 22, post 23, beverage receptacle 24, sound device 26 and openings 26.

In use, a person inserts a hand into cavity 12 and wraps fingers around the post 13 to grab same. At any time a beverage container into the receptacle 14. The illusion given is that the user has an enlarged hand. The article can provide a souvenir of one's experience, show one's affiliation and provide functionality as well. The article is worn with comfort and ease.

My invention fuses a beverage-insulating receptacle with a novelty article.

The material of the article 11 is such that it can accommodate various sized and shaped beverage containers, creates a better hold and insulates the inserted beverage.

It should be obvious that changes, additions and omissions may be made in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A novelty article comprising; a body for wearing and display on a person's hand; a cavity within the body for accommodating a person's hand; a gripping device disposed within the cavity; and, a receptacle formed within the body and adapted for receipt of a beverage container.
 2. The article of claim 1 wherein the body is in the shape of an oversized human hand.
 3. The article of claim 1 wherein the body is of molded, flexible, insulative material.
 4. The article of claim 1 wherein the body has an exterior surface adapted for display of indicia thereon.
 5. The article of claim 1 including a sound instrument secured within the body, the body having openings for passage of sound therethrough from the sound device.
 6. A novelty article, comprising: a body of molded, flexible, insulative material in the shape of a fist of a large human hand, the exterior surface of the body adapted for display of indicia thereon; a cavity within for accommodating of a person's hand; a post disposed within and held by the body and passing through the cavity for gripping by the person's hand; and, a receptacle formed within the body and adapted for receipt of a beverage container and the like.
 7. The article of claim 1 including a sound instrument secured within the article, the article having openings for passage of sound therethrough from the sound device. 